Press Releases

Settlement Agreement Forces Used Car Dealership to Pay $441,000 in Fines & Restitution

katyusca Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2014 

THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS ENTERS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT FORCING UNSCRUPULOUS USED CAR DEALERSHIP TO PAY $441,000 IN FINES AND RESTITUTION

Planet Automotive Used Deceptive Advertising and High-Pressure Sales Tactics to Coerce Consumers into Paying for High-Cost Financing and Unwanted Add-ons

Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Julie Menin today announced a settlement agreement with Planet Automotive, Inc. and its owner. The agreement is a result of DCA’s charges that Planet Automotive used deceptive advertising to lure consumers in and then pressured those consumers into agreeing to thousands of dollars in unwanted add-ons, such as extended warranties and theft protection, and then compelled those consumers to finance through the dealership. The agreement requires Planet Automotive, which now does business as Platinum Auto Mall at 37-15 Northern Boulevard in Long Island City, to pay $441,000 in fines and consumer restitution to 39 New Yorkers and to adhere to strict compliance with the law. The settlement agreement, which comes just months after DCA launched an aggressive investigation into the sale of unrepaired recalled used cars in New York City, also requires the dealership to check the recall status of each vehicle and repair all safety defects prior to sale. This is the first time DCA has made this requirement as part of a settlement agreement.

Read the full press release: Planet Automotive Settlement

El DCA Trabaja para proteger a solicitantes de trabajo de NYC

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PARA DISTRIBUCIÓN INMEDIATA
23 de octubre del 2014

EL DEPARTAMENTO DE ASUNTOS DEL CONSUMIDOR TRABAJA PARA PROTEGER A SOLICITANTES DE TRABAJO DE LA CIUDAD DE NUEVA YORK DE SER ESTAFADOS POR AGENCIAS DE EMPLEO

Cuando usted esté buscando un puesto de trabajo puede ser útil hacerlo a través de una agencia de empleo, pero es importante saber sus derechos y las responsabilidades de la agencia bajo la ley.

“Muchos de los malos actores en esta industria se aprovechan de los más vulnerables – los neoyorquinos de bajos ingresos, los inmigrantes y los jóvenes”, dijo la Comisionada del DCA Julie Menin. “La búsqueda de empleo ya es un proceso estresante, por lo que queremos que los neoyorquinos sepan que si deciden utilizar una agencia de empleo, el Departamento de Asuntos de Consumidor está trabajando todos los días para asegurar que las agencias de empleo operen bajo la ley”.

Read the full press release (Spanish): Employment Agency Tips

Read the full press release (English): Employment Agency Tips_English

DCA Launches Citywide Business Education Tour with the City’s Chambers of Commerce

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2014

DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS LAUNCHES CITYWIDE BUSINESS EDUCATION TOUR WITH THE CITY’S CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Julie Menin today launched DCA’s five-borough Business Education Tour in Brooklyn. The event series, in partnership with the chambers of commerce in each borough, is to educate business owners and other key leaders about the nearly two-dozen reforms that DCA has implemented to bring relief to thousands of small businesses in New York City. The Small Business Relief Package, which DCA announced in July, has reduced the number and cost of violations, increased transparency and fairness, and is expanding outreach and education to businesses. Commissioner Menin will meet with businesses in all five boroughs at breakfast events hosted by the chambers of commerce over the next three weeks.

Read the full press release: NYC Business Tour

Consejos para ayudarle a saber sus derechos al comprar en el supermercado

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PARA DISTRIBUCION INMEDIATA
10 de septiembre del 2014

CONSEJOS DEL DEPARTAMENTO DE ASUNTOS DEL CONSUMIDOR PARA AYUDARLE A SABER SUS DERECHOS EN LA CAJA REGISTRADORA DEL SUPERMERCADO

Al hacer sus compras diarias en el supermercado, los neoyorquinos están protegidos por varias leyes y normas locales relacionadas a balanzas, anuncios, precios e información sobre productos. Los consejos continuos de interés al consumidor del Departamento de Asuntos del Consumidor (DCA, por sus siglas en Ingles) les pueden asistir al escoger los productos adecuados, cómo puede ahorrar dinero, y cómo puede aprovechar el tiempo en el supermercado.

Read the full press release (Spanish): Supermarket Tips_Spanish

Read the full press release (English): Supermarket Tips_English

Consejos para ayudar a jovenes a tomar decisiones financieras sabias al entrar a la universidad

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PARA DISTRIBUCION INMEDIATA
4 de septiembre del 2014

CONSEJOS DEL DEPARTAMENTO DE ASUNTOS DEL CONSUMIDOR PARA AYUDAR A LOS JOVENES A TOMAR DECISIONES FINANCIERAS SABIAS A MEDIDA QUE EMPIEZAN LA UNIVERSIDAD

Si va para la universidad por primera vez o va de regreso a clases, el inicio de un nuevo año académico puede traer consigo muchas preguntas y preocupaciones financieras. A continuación encontrará consejos del Departamento de Asuntos del Consumidor (DCA, por sus siglas en Ingles) sobre cómo empezar el año académico tomando decisiones financieras sabias.

Read the full press release (Spanish): Back to School for College Tips_Spanish

Read the full press release (English): Back to School for College Tips_English

Consejos para ir de compras en la temporada de regreso a clases

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PARA DISTRIBUCION INMEDIATA
Agosto 28, 2014

CONSEJOS DEL DEPARTAMENTO DE ASUNTOS DEL CONSUMIDOR PARA OBTENER UNA “A” EN SUS COMPRAS DE REGRESO A CLASES

El primer día de clases está a la vuelta de la esquina y las tiendas están llenas de promociones para el regreso a clases. A continuación encontrará consejos del Departamento de Asuntos del Consumidor (DCA, por sus siglas en Inglés) sobre cómo enseñarle a sus niños a economizar y ahorrar y sobre cómo proteger su dinero y obtener ayuda con sus finanzas antes de que suene la primera campana.

Read the full press release (Spanish): Back to School Tips_Spanish

Read the full press release (English): Back to School Tips_English

Public Awareness Campaign Encourages New Yorkers to Get Financial Counseling at the City’s Financial Empowerment Centers

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2014

DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS LAUNCHES PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO ENCOURAGE NEW YORKERS TO GET FINANCIAL COUNSELING AT THE CITY’S FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTERS

Advertisements Feature the Stories of Real New Yorkers Using the City’s Financial Empowerment Centers to Tackle Their Debt, Save for the Future, Improve Their Credit, and Open Bank Accounts

Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Julie Menin today announced the launch of “You Can…,” a public awareness campaign that lets New Yorkers know that they can go to one of nearly 30 Financial Empowerment Centers across all five boroughs to get free, one-on-one, professional financial counseling. The campaign features five clients and their stories about how counselors at the City’s Financial Empowerment Centers helped them take control of their debt, save for the future, improve their credit score, and open bank accounts. The advertisements are running in the city’s subway cars and stations, as well as online and in a dozen citywide and community newspapers in every borough, both in English and Spanish.

Read the full press release: FEC Public Awareness Campaign Launch

NYC Launches Phase II of Paid Sick Leave Public Education & Outreach Campaign

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2014

NEW YORK CITY LAUNCHES SECOND PHASE OF ITS PAID SICK LEAVE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH CAMPAIGN

Department of Consumer Affairs Expands Outreach Efforts and Rolls out Advertising Campaign to Alert New Yorkers that Covered Employees can Begin Using Accrued Leave on July 30

NEW YORK —Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Julie Menin today officially launched the second phase of the City’s paid sick leave public education and outreach campaign to help employees and employers understand their responsibilities and rights. Under the law, certain employers now must provide sick leave so employees can care for themselves or a family member. These employers must allow covered employees to begin using accrued leave on July 30, 2014.

Read the full press release: Paid Sick Leave Phase 2 Campaign Launch